Dashboard summary indicators

Abstract

Network elements in a network are displayed along with their corresponding measured network parameters, wherein the display of the parameters comprises a color coded bar or other visual indicator. Each color corresponds to a particular range of values of parameters (e.g., 25% to 50% range). A symbol is displayed for each range of values, where the symbol color matches the color for each particular range and the symbol includes a number representing the number of network elements falling within the range.

1 . A method comprising:
 monitoring a network parameter value of a plurality of network elements in a data communication network;   corresponding a different distinct visual identifier to each of a plurality of predetermined network parameter value ranges;   generating a plurality of symbols, one for each of said plurality of predetermined network parameter value ranges, said symbol including the particular distinct visual identifier for the respective predetermined network parameter value range and including a numeric value indicating the number of network elements with a network parameter value falling within the respective predetermined network parameter value range; and   displaying said plurality of symbols on a display device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a numeric value that shows the monitored performance parameter value of the network element with the highest network parameter value.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of symbols are displayed as part of a widget. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of symbols are displayed when the widget is minimized. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particular distinct visual identifier is a color and the symbol comprises a geometric shape and the geometric shape visually corresponds to the particular distinct visual identifier by color. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network elements are ports and the network parameter value is a ported-based value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network elements are switches and the network parameter value is a switch-based value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a symbol visually alerts a user when the numeric value of the symbol changes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the visual alert is a flashing of the symbol. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media having computer-executable instructions stored therein for an application which performs the following method, the method comprising:
 monitoring a network parameter value of a plurality of network elements in a data communication network;   corresponding a different distinct visual identifier to each of a plurality of predetermined network parameter value ranges;   generating a plurality of symbols, one for each of said plurality of predetermined network parameter value ranges, said symbol including the particular distinct visual identifier for the respective predetermined network parameter value range and including a numeric value indicating the number of network elements with a network parameter value falling within the respective predetermined network parameter value range; and   displaying said plurality of symbols on a display device.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 displaying a numeric value that shows the monitored performance parameter value of the network element with the highest network parameter value.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of symbols are displayed as part of a widget. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of symbols are displayed when the widget is minimized. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media of  claim 10 , wherein the particular distinct visual identifier is a color and the symbol comprises a geometric shape and the geometric shape visually corresponds to the particular distinct visual identifier by color. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media of  claim 10 , wherein the network elements are ports and the network parameter value is a ported-based value. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media of  claim 10 , wherein the network elements are switches and the network parameter value is a switch-based value. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media of  claim 10 , wherein a symbol visually alerts a user when the numeric value of the symbol changes. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media of  claim 17 , wherein the visual alert is a flashing of the symbol. 
     
     
         19 . A computer system comprising:
 a processor;   a display device coupled to said processor; and   storage coupled to said processor and storing computer-executable instructions for an application which cause said processor to perform the following steps:
 monitoring a network parameter value of a plurality of network elements in a data communication network; 
 corresponding a different distinct visual identifier to each of a plurality of predetermined network parameter value ranges; 
 generating a plurality of symbols, one for each of said plurality of predetermined network parameter value ranges, said symbol including the particular distinct visual identifier for the respective predetermined network parameter value range and including a numeric value indicating the number of network elements with a network parameter value falling within the respective predetermined network parameter value range; and 
 displaying said plurality of symbols on a display device. 
   
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 displaying a numeric value that shows the monitored performance parameter value of the network element with the highest network parameter value.   
     
     
         21 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of symbols are displayed as part of a widget. 
     
     
         22 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of symbols are displayed when the widget is minimized. 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the particular distinct visual identifier is a color and the symbol comprises a geometric shape and the shape visually corresponds to the particular distinct visual identifier by color. 
     
     
         24 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the network elements are ports and the network parameter value is a ported-based value. 
     
     
         25 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the network elements are switches and the network parameter value is a switch-based value. 
     
     
         26 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein a symbol visually alerts a user when the numeric value of the symbol changes. 
     
     
         27 . The computer system of  claim 25 , wherein the visual alert is a flashing of the symbol.